At One Ocean Foundation, we recognize the powerful role that sports plays in raising awareness about ocean sustainability. Through our dedicated projects with sports teams, we harness the influence and reach of athletic communities to promote marine ecosystem conservation.

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By partnering with international top-level teams, sailors and athletes around the world, we aim to communicate the urgent need for marine preservation, leveraging the unique platform of sports to engage and inspire action. Our initiatives demonstrate how sports can serve as a catalyst for environmental stewardship, fostering a collective commitment to protect the sea.

Sail4Change was an educational project developed by One Ocean Foundation in 2024, with the support of the Italian Navy and World Sailing. The initiative involved over 5,000 young people across 23 countries, aiming to raise awareness among the new generation of sailors about the main effects of climate change on the oceans.

During its journey around the world, One Ocean Foundation offered local young sailors, aged between eight and twelve, the opportunity to take part in a series of educational activities and challenges at each stop. Winners of the competitions had the honor of boarding the historic Amerigo Vespucci, thanks to the support of the Italian Navy.

Through the development of dedicated educational resources, participants deepened their understanding of topics such as ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and biodiversity loss. They were also invited to create materials and artistic works to raise awareness within local communities about the impact of climate change, engaging with diverse perspectives and fostering innovative approaches to global maritime challenges.

Since 2022, One Ocean Foundation is the Race For The Future partner of the ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team for the Impact League of the SailGP Championship. Over the years, we organized workshops, art exhibitions, beach cleanups, and hands-on labs where young people could explore plankton under microscopes and observe microplastics and sand crystals. On a broader scale, we launched impactful environmental projects: “The seahorses hotel” in Taranto’s Mar Piccolo (2023), and the “Race to Restore” project to replant eelgrass in collaboration with CERI and Dalhousie University (2024).

Since 2021, One Ocean Foundation has been the official Sustainability Partner of the Italian Sailing Federation, working together to promote ocean protection and sustainable practices. We created a “Sustainability Kit” for FIV sailing schools, including tools for beach cleanups and educational materials on marine litter—reaching over 750 young sailors. In 2024, FIV and UVAI joined the Foundation’s RECO project, recognizing the role of the Onboard Ecological Officer to promote sustainability at sea.

One Ocean Foundation extended its commitment to ocean protection into the world of golf through the More Birdies Less Plastic initiative. In 2023 and 2024, the project has involved hundreds of young players from more than 40 countries, raising awareness on marine pollution. For every birdie scored, 1kg of plastic is removed from coastal areas, showing how sport can help drive positive environmental change.